Book frame

ABSTRACT

A book frame comprising a book having a front cover and a back cover, the front cover having an aperture; a one or more pages interposed between the front cover and back cover, wherein a portion of a first page is visible through the aperture; and an easel that is deployed to display the book as a book frame. The book frame may be adapted to hold a printed image. A method of making a book frame comprising the steps of capturing an image; processing the image to print a photograph; manipulating the photograph for display in the book frame; inserting the photograph into the book frame; and presenting the book frame to the intended recipient for display. A method of displaying a book frame comprising the steps of: providing an image for display; receiving a book frame with a printed image; and deploying an easel to display the book frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to a book that can be used as apicture frame. More specifically, the present invention relates to abook which may contain a story and which may additionally function as apicture frame such that a photographic print or other printed image canbe inserted therein for display.

Books are the gateway to the imagination, and people of all ages enjoyreading books. There are an unlimited number of genres with an unlimitednumber of reading choices for almost anyone. Teenagers and adults enjoyreading because it stimulates the mind. Young children enjoy readingbecause it occupies time and provides a perfect opportunity to recognizeand learn letters, words, objects, persons, places color and things.Most people, regardless of age, enjoy stories or books that have beenpersonalized in some form.

There are a multitude of personalized books that are currently marketedtoday. Many of these personalized storybooks are directed to and writtenfor children. For example, the personalized storybooks generally featurethe insertion of the name of the child throughout the book for one ofthe characters of the story. The story is typically an adventureinvolving a life activity, a holiday or a special occasion. Thestorybook may also feature a certain character known to children, suchas a comic book character or other superhero, and the child mayaccompany the character on an adventure.

Photographic prints and other printed images are captured as a part ofdaily life. During special occasions, vacations, trips and otheroutings, photographic images are captured to memorialize the event. Forexample, during any holiday period, children or even adults have anopportunity to have their picture taken with a holiday figure. Parentcapture images of their children as they grow up into adulthood. Petowners frequently take pictures of their cats, dogs or other pets. Thephotographic images are processed into photographic prints and enjoyedfor a short time. The images that are captured the greatest moments oflife are put in a drawer for permanent storage. Many of thesephotographic prints are stored away and forgotten, including thepictures from the holidays and special occasions.

Accordingly, there is a need for a unique device for the display ofpictures that functions as a keepsake or memento.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A book frame is disclosed that comprises a book having a front cover anda back cover, the front cover having an aperture; one or more pagesinterposed between the front cover and the back cover of the bookwherein a portion of a first page is visible through the aperture; andan easel, wherein the easel is deployed to display the book as a bookframe. The book may further comprise a dust jacket to protect the frontcover and the back cover. The front cover and the back cover may beconstructed from the same or a different material, which may includehard plastic, rubber, metal and coated cardboard. The aperture of thebook frame may include a clear material layer, such as plastic or glassto protect the first page of the book. The one or more pages may containa story and the shape of the book may be related to the subject of thestory. The front cover and the back cover may have a design that isrelated to the subject of the story.

The book frame may be adapted to hold a printed image. The front covermay be comprised of a first portion and a second portion with the firstportion secured to the second portion to define an area for theinsertion of a printed image. The first page of the book may comprise aplastic sleeve that may be used to hold the printed image for displaythrough the aperture. The first page may further comprise corner sheathsthat are adapted to receive a printed image for display through theaperture. The easel may be part of the back cover or the easel may beattached to the back cover. The easel may be a die-cut easel or anyother conventional easel. The book frame may further comprise a secondfront cover, wherein the front cover has an aperture and the secondfront cover depicts a printed image that is viewed through the aperture.The book frame may further comprise additional pages that are adapted tohold a printed image, the additional pages located among the one or morepages.

A method of making a book frame is disclosed comprising the steps ofcapturing an image; processing the image to print a photograph;manipulating the photograph for display in the book frame; inserting thephotograph into the book frame; and presenting the book frame to theintended recipient for display. A method of displaying a book frame, themethod comprising the steps of: providing an image for display;receiving a book frame with a printed image; and deploying an easel todisplay the book frame.

The book frame provides a unique personalized display for a photographthat can be displayed at any time of year. The book frame can bepresented as a keepsake to friends and family as a memento of a specialoccasion or as a special gift.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodimentsdisclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the followingdescription and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a representation of a book frameaccording to one aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2A represents one embodiment of the front cover of a book frame inwhich an image can be inserted for display.

FIG. 2B represents another embodiment of the front cover of a book framein which an image can be inserted for display.

FIG. 2C represents another embodiment of the front cover of a book framein which an image can be inserted for display.

FIG. 3A is a rear perspective view of the book frame with an easel in astowed position.

FIG. 3B is a rear perspective view of the book frame with the easel in adeployed position.

FIG. 4 represents the methodology of providing a book frame from theperspective of the vendor.

FIG. 5 represents the methodology of displaying a book from theperspective of the recipient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The drawings referred to herein are for the purposes of illustrating theembodiments of the present invention and not for the purposes oflimiting the same.

In FIG. 1, there is shown a book frame 5, as further described herein,which is generally a book 15 that may be supported in a vertical orvertically inclined position by an easel 10. The book 15 may be anyshape, configuration or size that can be supported by an easel 10 andmay contains a story. Further, the subject of the story contained withinthe book 15 may be such that a particular shape of the book 15 is moresuitable. For example, the story may describe a young child's adventureat a baseball game. Accordingly, the book 15 may be in the shape of acircle to represent a baseball, or the book 15 may be in the shape of adiamond to represent a baseball diamond. Similarly, a football stadiummay offer the book frame 5 as a promotional item for young children, andthe subject of the book 15 may include the child as one of the playersin the football game. Thus, an appropriate shape for the book 15 wouldbe the shape of a football. Alternatively, the subject of the book 15may relate to an adventure at the zoo. Accordingly, the book 15 may beconfigured in the shape of a zoo animal, such as a lion. Yetalternatively, the subject of the book 15 may be a holiday story, suchas a story that is related to the Christmas holiday. Accordingly, thebook 15 may be configured in the shape of a stocking, a Christmas treeor other Christmas related object. Still yet alternatively, the book 15may have a shape that bears no relation to the story contained withinit. Thus, the shape of the book 15 may include without limitation, asquare, a rectangular, a diamond, a circle or a triangle. The shape ofthe book 15 may even be irregular or abstract so long as the book 15 iscapable of being supported by an easel 10 for the display of aphotographic print or other printed image 40.

The book 15 comprises a front cover 20 and a back cover 25 with one ormore pages 30 interposed between. Each of the front cover 20 and theback cover 25 may be of the same paper type and weight as the one ormore pages 30. The front cover 20 and the back cover 25 may beconstructed from material such as cardboard to provide durability forthe book frame 5. The front cover 20 and the back cover 25 may also beconstructed from a conventional weight text stock or a heavier coverstock. The front cover 20 and the back cover 25 may also be constructedfrom a hard plastic material, a rubber-like material, metal, coatedcardboard or any other material that may be suitable for use as one orboth of the front cover 20 and the back cover of a book 15. Further, thefront cover 20 and the back cover 25 may be the same or different typeof material. Additionally, the book 15 may have a dust protector thatcovers the front cover 20 and the back cover 25.

The front cover 20 and the back cover 25 may comprise one continuouspiece having a fold along the left edge 70 of the book 15 which definesa front side 75 and a back side (not shown) of the book 15. The frontcover 20, the back cover 25 and the one or more pages 30 interposedbetween may be secured together along or near the fold along the leftedge 70 to form a book, such as by stapling through the continuous piecethat comprises the front cover 20 and the back cover 25 in addition tothe one or more pages 30. The one or more pages 30 may also be securedto the continuous piece comprising the front cover 20 and the back cover25 by gluing the same, using the type of glue normally used in themanufacture of books. The front cover 20 and the back cover 25 mayfurther be separate components which would require that the book 15 bebound together so that the book 15 can be used by the reader while beingheld, when the book 15 is lying flat or when the book 15 is supported bythe easel 10. The binding may be any conventional type of binding knownin the art including a pivoting binder, which is a binder formed ofindividual ringlets. The binding may also be a spiral binding. Thematerial used for the binding may be any suitable material includingwithout limitation plastic or metal.

Each of the front cover 20 and the back cover 25 of the book 15 may bethe same size as the one or more pages 30. However, it can beappreciated by one skilled in the art that the front cover 20 and theback cover 25 may be slightly larger in size than the one or more pages30. The front cover 20 and the back cover 25 may also be printed with adesign, which can be any type of design. For example, as previouslydescribed, the subject of the story in the book 15 may be a child'sadventure at a baseball game. Accordingly, at least one of the frontcover 20 and the back cover 25 may include a design of a baseball. Inanother example, the subject of the book 15 may be a story related tothe Christmas holiday, and the front cover 20 and the back cover 25 maybe printed with a Christmas theme design. One or both of the front cover20 and the back cover 25 of the book 15 may also be a solid color, ageometric pattern or shape or the front cover and the back cover mayhave a wooden frame appearance.

The one or more pages 30 may contain writing that may be in the form ofa story. The story can be any subject including an adventure, a holiday,a fill-in-the blank interactive story, a play, a whodunit, a mystery, alesson to be learned such as a moral or education lesson. The one ormore pages 30 may be a conventional twenty pound text paper stock, athicker cover stock or cardboard, which may be coated. The one or morepages 30 can also be the same stock as the front cover 20 or the backcover 25. The story may contain only text, illustrations or acombination of both. The subject of the story contained within the bookdoes not have to include a child as the main character, such as in theexamples as described, as people of all ages enjoy reading a good book.Accordingly, the main character of the story may be an adult character.

The front cover 20 should function similar to a picture frame with aportion of the front cover 20 cut-out or otherwise removed to define anaperture 35. The aperture 35 may be covered with a clear material,preferably plastic, although glass may also be used. The clear materialprotects the photograph that is inserted into the book frame 5. FIGS. 2Athrough FIG. 2C represent a number of different embodiments that may beincorporated as part of the book frame 5 for the insertion of aphotographic print or other printed image 40 for display through theaperture of the front cover 20 in connection with the book frame 5. Asshown in FIG. 1, the printed photograph 40 should be visible when thebook frame 5 is viewed from the perspective of the front cover 20. Inone embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the front cover 20 may be comprised ofa first portion 20 a and a second portion 20 b. The first portion 20 ais the outwardly facing portion of the front cover 20 and is visible toanyone that is looking at the front of the book frame 5. The secondportion 20 b of the front cover 20 should be attached to the firstportion 20 a of the front cover 20 in a manner that defines an area forthe insertion of a printed photograph or other printed image. Ideally,the second portion 20 b should be secured to the first portion 20 asubstantially around the perimeter of the front cover 20 such that aphotograph may be securably placed in the area defined by the firstportion 20 a and the second portion 20 b. The first portion 20 a and thesecond portion 20 b of the front cover 20 may be separate portions thatare fastened together by glue, stapling, tape or any other conventionalmethod of securing the same. In another embodiment, the front cover 20may be one continuous piece that is folded along a right edge of thebook 15 to define a first portion 20 a and a second portion 20 b. Theopen edges of the first portion 20 a and the second portion 20 b may besecured as necessary for the insertion of the photograph or otherprinted image 40.

FIG. 2B represents another embodiment of a book frame 5 in which aphotographic print or other image 40 can be inserted for display. InFIG. 2B, a plastic sleeve 45 is used to hold the printed photograph orother printed image 40 in place for display in association with the bookframe 5. The plastic sleeve 45 may be the same size as the aperture 40cut into the front cover 20 or the plastic sleeve 45 may be larger orsmaller than the aperture 40 cut into the front cover 20. The plasticsleeve 45 should be clear and shaped similar to the printed photographor other printed image that is to be inserted therein. If the printedphotograph or other printed image 40 is a standard photograph, theplastic sleeve 45 should be sealed or sealable on at least three sides,so that the photograph or other printed image is insertable andsecurable therein. The plastic sleeve 45 may be capable of being sealedon the fourth side to ensure that the printed photograph or otherprinted image 40 is maintained inside the plastic sleeve 45. The plasticsleeve 45 is affixed to the page immediately adjacent to the secondportion 20 b of the front cover 20 by any conventional method ofaffixation including without limitation glue, tape and stapling. Inanother embodiment, the first page 30 immediately following the frontcover 20 may be a plastic sleeve 45 that is bound to the book frame 5 asits own page 30.

FIG. 2C represents another embodiment of the book frame 5 in which aphotographic print or other image 40 can be inserted for display. InFIG. 2C, corner sheaths 50 are attached to the first page of the book 15at locations to facilitate the placement of a printed photograph fordisplay in association with the book frame 5. The tips of the printedphotograph or other image 40 are slid into the corner sheaths 50 to holdthe same in place.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the book frame 5 may include an easel 10 inconnection with the back cover 25. Although the easel 10 is preferablydie-cut in the back cover 25, other forms of attachment are alsocontemplated such as by gluing, tape, stapling or any other conventionalmethod of attachment. The easel 10 may be used to support the book frame5 in a generally upright orientation. The easel 10 may be constructed ofany material that is suitable to provide strength to support the bookframe 5, including without limitation plastic, rubber, metal andcardboard. FIG. 3A shows the book frame 5 with an easel 10 in a stowedposition along the back cover 25. A finger hole 60 is further die cutinto the back cover 25 to facilitate the deployment of the easel 10.FIG. 3B shows the easel 10 in a deployed position. The easel 10 isopened and bent at an angle relative to the plane of the book frame 5.Once the easel 10 is in its deployed position, the book frame 5 is readyfor display on a surface, such as a table or shelf.

It should be understood that the book frame 5 is not intended only forthe display of photographic prints. In another embodiment of the bookframe 5, the book 15 may comprise two front covers 20, wherein the firstfront cover serves as a frame and the second front cover may depict thename of the book, the author or other illustrations which can be viewedthrough the aperture in the first front cover 20. In yet anotherembodiment of the book frame 5, the first page of the book 15 may serveas a title page and depict the name of the book, the author or otherillustrations which can be viewed through the aperture 35 in the frontcover 20. It should further be understood that the book 15 may comprisesadditional pages 30 that are adapted to hold photographic prints. Thesepages 30 may be placed anywhere within the book 15.

FIG. 4 represents the methodology of providing a book frame 5 describedfrom the process of the vendor. At step 100, an image is capturedthrough the use of an image capture device. The image capture device maybe one of a digital camera, a video camera that captures stillphotographic images, a disposable camera, a web cam that captures stillphotographic images or any other device that is capable of capturing animage that can be printed as a photographic print. The subject of theimage is unlimited and may be determined by the story contained withinthe book 15. In one example, the image may be captured in connectionwith a holiday event such as a child's visit to a holiday character.Specifically, the story contained within the book 15 may be a Christmasstory and the image may be captured in connection with the Christmasholiday. A child may visit Santa Claus to provide a wish list for theupcoming holiday, and in connection therewith, an image may be capturedof the child sitting on Santa Claus' lap. The subject of the image isnot limited to the Christmas holiday, as the image may be captured inconnection with a child's visit to any holiday character, including theEaster Bunny. In another example, the story contained within the book 15may be sports-related, and an image can be captured that includes anindividual standing in front of a venue or other similar location, suchas a stadium. In another example, the subject of the image is unrelatedto the story contained within the book 15 and an image may be capturedfor further display that has any subject.

Next, at step 105, the image is processed to provide a printedphotograph. Depending on the manner in which the image is captured,different steps may be necessary to produce a printed photograph. Forexample, if the image is captured with a digital camera or other digitalimage capture device, the image may be in the form of a JPEG or othersimilar digital file format. The image should be uploaded to a personalcomputer having an attached printer or other device that is capable ofprocessing a digital image to provide a printed photograph or otherprinted image. If the image is uploaded to a personal computer, thecharacteristics of the digital image can be adjusted before the image isprinted as a photographic print. Using a software program such asMicrosoft Photo Editor sold by Microsoft, Inc. of Redmond, Wash., thebrightness, contrast and resolution of the image can be adjusted beforethe image is printed. Alternatively, if the image is captured using acamera containing traditional film, including cameras of the disposabletype, the image may be processed through conventional photographicdevelopment techniques.

At step 110, the printed photograph is manipulated to fit within theconfines of the frame of the book 15. The book frame 5 may be configuredas a number of different shapes and sizes. Cropping of the photographmay be necessary depending on the configuration of the book frame 5. Forexample, the book frame 5 may be offered for sale in connection with avisit to a holiday oriented figure. The vendor of the services may haveseveral different books 15 to choose from that are each adapted toreceive a photographic print for display in connection therewith. Thebooks 15 may further have a number of different shapes, including theshapes of a candy cane, a Christmas tree, a decorative bulb and agingerbread man. In another example, the book frame 5 may be offered forsale in connection with a visit to a venue, as previously described. Thebooks 15 may have a number of different shapes, including the shapes ofa baseball, a football and a soccer ball. Accordingly, the shape of thebook 15 may be such that the same size photograph may not be theappropriate size photograph for each book 15. In the example where thesubject of the story is unrelated to the size or shape of the book 15,the vendor may be capturing images with an image capturing device thatdoes not allow for size manipulation prior receiving the photographicimage in a printed form, such as a Polaroid camera. Thus, the printedimage may require further manipulation in the form of cutting orcropping for the display in connection with the front cover 20 of thebook frame 5.

At step 115, the printed photograph is attached to the book frame 5appropriately manner depending on the manner in which the printedphotograph must be inserted for display. If the book 15 has a frontcover 20 as displayed in FIG. 2A, the printed photograph is insertedinto the open side of the front cover 20. If the book 15 has the plasticsleeve as represented by FIG. 2B, the printed photograph is insertedinto the plastic sleeve, and the plastic sleeve is sealed if adapted forthat purpose. Finally, if the book 15 has the corner sheaths asrepresented by FIG. 2C, each corner of the printed photograph isinserted into the proper corner sheath to secure the photograph fordisplay.

At step 120, the book frame containing the printed photograph ispresented to the intended recipient. The recipient may be a child or anadult who receives the book frame containing the printed photograph forfurther display, as described herein with respect to FIG. 4. The vendorbenefits from the methodology of providing the book frame because thevendor is offering a unique and personalized product. The recipient alsoreceives the benefit of having a personalized memorialization of anevent or even just a uniquely personalized gift of a book 5 that can beused to display a printed photograph.

FIG. 5 represents the methodology of displaying a book frame 5 from theperspective of the recipient. At step 200, the user may provide an imagefor the display in connection with a book frame 5. Specifically, aspreviously described, the recipient may be obtaining the book frame inconnection with a visit to a holiday-oriented figure or the recipientmay have visited a sports venue. Moreover, the subject of the image isnot limited and the image that is provided may be any mage that can becaptured for display. The step of the user providing the image mayconsist of the user sitting for the capture of the image. Alternatively,the user may provide a previously processed photographic print for itsinsertion into the book frame 5.

Next, at step 205, the recipient receives the book frame 5 with theprinted photograph inserted therein. The printed photograph should beinserted so that the printed photograph is visible when the book frame 5is viewed from the front cover 20. Finally, at step 210, the recipientdeploys an easel to display the book frame 5. The book frame 5 may bedisplayed anywhere that the recipient chooses to display the same. Thebook frame 5 is a uniquely personalized gift that can be displayedanywhere and at any time of the year.

It should be noted that the recipient does not necessarily have to bethe person that is portrayed in the photograph. Instead, a grandchildmay provide a book frame having a printed photograph inserted thereinfor display to a grandparent as a keepsake. In another example, a familymember or friend may provide a book frame to another family member orfriend to memorialize an event or the friendship. In another example, anemployer may provide an employee with a book frame having a printedphotograph inserted therein as a token of appreciation for employment,such as on an employment anniversary as a parting gift at thetermination of employment.

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation.Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devisevariations that are within the scope and spirit of the inventiondisclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodimentsdisclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with eachother and are not intended to be limited to the specific combinationdescribed herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited bythe illustrated embodiments.

1. A book frame comprising: a book having a front cover and a backcover, the front cover having an aperture; one or more pages interposedbetween the front cover and the back cover of the book wherein a portionof a first page is visible through the aperture; and an easel, whereinthe easel is deployed to display the book as a book frame.
 2. The bookframe of claim 1, wherein the book further comprises the shape of one ofa square, a rectangle, a diamond, a circle or a triangle.
 3. The bookframe of claim 1, wherein the book further comprises a dust jacket. 4.The book frame of claim 1, wherein the front cover and the back coverare constructed from the same material.
 5. The book frame of claim 1,wherein the front cover and the back cover are constructed from adifferent material.
 6. The book frame of claim 4, wherein the frontcover and the back cover comprise one of hard plastic, rubber, metal andcoated cardboard.
 7. The book frame of claim 1, wherein the aperture iscovered with a clear material.
 8. The book frame of claim 7, wherein theclear material comprises one of plastic and glass.
 9. The book frame ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more pages contains a story.
 10. The bookframe of claim 1, wherein the first page further comprises a plasticsleeve adapted to receive a printed image.
 11. The book frame of claim1, wherein the front cover further comprises a first portion and asecond portion, the first portion being secured to the second portion todefine an area for inserting a printed image.
 12. The book frame ofclaim 1, wherein the first page further comprises corner sheaths adaptedto receive a printed image.
 13. The book frame of claim 1, wherein theeasel is a die-cut easel.
 14. The book frame of claim 1, wherein theeasel is part of the back cover.
 15. The book frame of claim 1, furthercomprising a second front cover, wherein the front cover has an apertureand the second front cover depicts a printed image that is viewedthrough the aperture.
 16. The book frame of claim 1, further comprisingadditional pages that are adapted to hold a printed image, theadditional pages located among the one or more pages.
 17. A method ofmaking a book frame comprising the steps of: capturing an image;processing the image to print a photograph; manipulating the photographfor display in the book frame; inserting the photograph into the bookframe; and presenting the book frame to the intended recipient fordisplay.
 18. A method of displaying a book frame, the method comprisingthe steps of: providing an image for display; receiving a book framewith a printed image; and deploying an easel to display the book frame.